Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is shopping for a “novel launcher” to support a new generation of interceptors.

The U.S. Air Force has initiated its plan to reactivate a wind tunnel capable of testing hypersonic vehicles and engines.

Leonardo Helicopters has revealed a concept for a next-generation tiltrotor architecture that potentially simplifies development and could broaden the appeal of the configuration.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency on March 2 released details of a new, long-range, air-launched cruise missile employed by the Russian air force.

France will grow its nuclear weapons stockpile and open deterrence exercises to European neighbors, President Emmanuel Macron has said.

Airbus has demonstrated a laser communication link with an airborne communication terminal and a communications satellite in geostationary orbit.

The U.S. Air Force will in the coming months finalize requirements for how it will take on the airborne nuclear command post mission.

The FBOs that support private and business aviation have a key role in enabling the rollout of AAM.

U.S. forces struck an Iranian aircraft carrier for drones in the first hours of the war on Feb. 28, U.S. Central Command said on March 2.

Leonardo Helicopters has expressed confidence that it can finally bring its AW09 single-engine light helicopter to market by year-end.

The Air National Guard is facing uncertainty in how it will meet some of its homeland defense requirements as the Air Force retires aging aircraft.

Airbus, Boeing, Leonardo, and Sikorsky have prequalified to participate in the next steps of a NATO initiative to develop a battlefield and naval rotorcraft.

Aalto, a company spun out of Airbus to fly the Zephyr HAPS, is to work with Indonesian telecoms provider Telkomsel to address coverage issues.

The European Union’s IRIS² autonomous secure sat communication system will likely expand beyond the core member states, helping the economics of the project.

A group of competing defense contractors in the U.S. are jousting with each other to replace the venerable Patriot air defense missile.

Studies toward composite materials able to withstand higher temperatures for applications in an engine’s environment are in full swing.

Newly formed rotorcraft lessor SMFL Helicopters (SMFLH) has begun operations.

The U.S. suffered further losses as the fight against Iran stretched into a third day, with signs the conflict is expanding as Israel engaged Iranian proxies in Lebanon.

Safran Aerosystems has acquired MCA, a specialist in metallic parts for fuel systems.

The UK has said it plans to award Leonardo a contract for 23 AW149 helicopters in a boost to the Yeovil, England, production site.

The Israeli Air Force targets Iran as the U.S and Israel continue their combat operations against Iran into a second day.

A Hypersonix Launch Systems vehicle completed its first flight late on Feb. 27, propelled to Mach 5-plus speeds by a Rocket Lab HASTE rocket.

News in brief.

LOCKHEED gets Israeli F-35 support award... LEONARDO selects new helo rescue hoist for AW139... U.S. NAVY orders AARGM-ER IMUs...

NASA safety panel flags risks in Artemis missions and ISS transition as the workforce shrinks to 1960s levels.